Day: June 1, 2022

Statement by Cape Town Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis

I was excited to see World Rugby’s announcement yesterday that the HSBC Sevens tournament will return to Cape Town after a two-year hiatus. The tournament will be played on the weekend of 9 to11 December and will see Cape Town’s own DHL Stadium playing host to the world’s best male and female sevens rugby players.

It is fantastic to see renowned international events such as this return to the Mother City. Not only is the economic boost that results from events like this crucial for our post-Covid economic recovery, but this also reinforces Cape Town’s status as an international events destination.

We repeat our call on national government to drop all remaining capacity limits and allow full stadiums for large sporting events like this.

Cape Town is ready to welcome all players and fans to our shores for a sports-, fun-, and entertainment-filled summer.

Source: City Of Cape Town

The Department of Social Development has gazetted the proclamation of the Social Assistance Amendment Act, effectively improving the social assistance programme to benefit orphans and vulnerable children.

Social assistance is one of the country’s biggest child protection programmes, currently reaching just over 13 million children.

In a statement on Wednesday, the department explained that the Social Assistance Amendment Act specifically seeks, among other things, to make provision for additional payments linked to social grants, including the implementation of the extended Child Support Grant (CSG) policy for orphans in the care of relatives (CSG Top-Up).

“This policy intervention empowers the Minister of Social Development, in concurrence with the Minister of Finance, to make provision for a top up of 50% more on the child support grant for orphans in the care of relatives, who are eligible for the CSG.

“These children will receive their basic CSG, which is currently R480, plus an additional amount of R240 (50% of the basic CSG), bringing the total amount to R720,” the department said.

It said that this provision is an important part of the comprehensive legal solution to the foster care challenge, as it will enable relatives caring for orphans to get a social grant quickly by going directly to SASSA without first needing a social worker’s investigation, report and a court order.

“The CSG Top-Up alleviates the burden on social workers contending with high foster care caseloads by reducing the number of new applications and two-yearly extensions. This will free them up to provide responsive child protection and care services to all children in need of care and protection. This is not a new grant but rather builds on the existing CSG system in the form of a ‘top-up’ amount,” the department said.

The CSG is one of government’s most successful social protection interventions for children living in poverty.

The CSG Top-Up will expand on this successful programme, with a focus on the most vulnerable children – orphans living with adult relatives and orphans living on their own in child-headed households – who will now be able to access the benefit for themselves.

This policy expands child care and protection for these vulnerable groups of children.

The department said orphaned children living in poor families and children living in child-headed households, who are not adequately financially supported, warranted a policy intervention for additional income support.

“This intervention strengthens and supports the safety net of orphaned children through a specifically defined additional accessible cash benefit.

“It will enable relatives caring for orphans to provide for their basic needs and support required within their extended family environment without removing them from the households they are familiar with,” the department said.

This comes as the country commemorates Child Protection Week, which was launched in Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape, on Sunday and is expected to close in KwaZulu-Natal on 5 June 2022.

The commemoration is meant to raise awareness on the high incidence of teenage pregnancy, abuse and exploitation, focusing on the reduction and prevention of teenage pregnancy through prevention and early intervention programmes.

The campaign further strengthens partnerships with various stakeholders, most importantly parents, families and communities.

During Child Protection Week, the department highlights service offerings and promotes the rights, well-being and protection of children.

Furthermore, children are given an opportunity to voice issues that affect them and propose solutions to them.

In order to receive this benefit, applicants are required to prove that a child is an orphan by providing:

– certified copies of the death certificates of the child’s parent/s; or

– where the death certificate of one of the parents of the child cannot be obtained by the applicant, a certified copy of the death certificate of one parent and an affidavit by the applicant attesting to the unknown status of the child’s other parent.

The amendment will also facilitate online applications for CSG and CSG Top-Up, which will also alleviate the burden of primary caregivers having to travel long distances or queuing at SASSA offices to lodge an application. This will also reduce their risk of exposure to COVID-19.

Caregivers who are eligible can now apply for the CSG Top Up at any of SASSA local offices and online as of today, 1 June 2022, which is also International Children’s Day.

Applicants will also be able to track the status of their applications using the online portal. Notifications of the outcome of their online application will be sent by SMS or email.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Statement by the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas

The City of Cape Town’s Urban Mobility Directorate is prioritising the construction of new roads, general road maintenance and new infrastructure for public transport services over the next three financial years.

All-in-all, the City’s Urban Mobility Directorate will spend nearly R6,4 billion on capital projects over the next three financial years, with nearly R1,4 billion budgeted for 2022/23 alone.

Capital projects relate to investment in new infrastructure to ensure commuters, goods, and services can keep on moving in Cape Town. Thus, this is money to be spent on new roads, traffic signals, congestion relief projects, new facilities for buses and minibus-taxis, and infrastructure related to the roll-out of the MyCiTi service in the metro-south east.

The directorate is prioritising the following for the next financial year:

• New infrastructure for the roll-out of the MyCiTi service in the metro-south east: R667 million

• New public transport facilities, among which minibus-taxi facilities: R99 million

• Projects to relief congestion: R192 million

• Reconstruction of metro roads: R38,5 million

• Rehabilitation of roads: R90,6 million

• New sidewalks, cycle lanes, and improved universal access: R29,6 million

• New stops and stations along existing MyCiTi bus routes: R12,5 million

The bulk of the operating budget for the next financial year will be spent on:

• Operating the MyCiTi bus service: R629 million

• Operating the Dial-a-Ride service: R44 million

• Maintenance of roads, stormwater infrastructure, traffic signals, and new buses: R870 million

• Safety, cleaning, and maintenance of minibus-taxi facilities: R159 million

Where and how we intend to spend our budget clearly demonstrate our priorities for the new financial year. We want to ensure Capetonians have safe and durable roads with working traffic signals, and that we keep on expanding our road capacity to address congestion; operate a world-class MyCiTi service with proper facilities; commuters have access to clean and safe public transport facilities; and that we provide for the future needs of our residents by planning ahead for the roll-out of the MyCiTi service to the metro-south east.

I am confident that this budget will provide us with the necessary strategies to achieve our vision of a more liveable, connected and mobile city.

Source: City Of Cape Town

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister, Ronald Lamola, has requested the Western Cape Division of the High Court to reopen the inquest into the death of anti-apartheid activist and Muslim cleric, Abdullah Haron.

In a statement, the department said the decision to reopen the case was made in terms of Section 17 A of the Inquest Act No. 58 of 1959.

Haron – who was also known as Imam Haron – died while in police custody following his detention by the then apartheid government.

The court’s original finding was that Haron died as a result of falling down a flight of stairs.

“Mr Imam Haron died whilst in police detention on 27 September 1969 after being held incommunicado for 122 days.

“He was detained by the security branch, in terms of section 6 of the Terrorism Act and died at Caledon Square police station, Cape Town. The apartheid regime held an inquest in 1970. The findings of the apartheid regime were primarily based on reports from medical experts and police witnesses,” the statement read.

The department explained that the reopening of the case follows an “application by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for the reopening of the inquests”.

“The renewed investigation into the apartheid crime will consider expert reports from a State pathologist and an aeronautical engineer, and trajectory expert will provide a new perspective into the probable cause of the death of Imam Haron.

“An inquest must be so thorough that the public and interested parties are satisfied that there has been a full investigation into the circumstances of the death,” the department said.

In 2014, Haron was posthumously awarded the Order of Luthuli in Gold by the South African government for his work “exceptional contribution to raising awareness of political injustices”.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Statement by Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth

The latest figures from Statistics South Africa prove that the City’s efforts to lay a solid foundation for job creation are bearing fruit. According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for January-March 2022, Cape Town maintained the lowest unemployment rate on the expanded definition of all metros, at 30%.

This shows that the City is on the right track with its growth coalition partnerships and business-friendly programmes.

Our Jobs Connect Workforce Development platform, for example, is where the City is helping job-seekers to source knowledge, training and employment opportunities while linking businesses with the appropriate individuals that will help them expand their operations.

Then there is the Cape Skills and Employment Accelerator Project funded primarily by the City and the National Skills Fund, which aims to facilitate over 3 000 jobs in three years, by providing training and workplace experience in high growth industries for previously unemployed South African youth and women.

To date, 1 400 unemployed and previously disadvantaged individuals have been trained for call centres and every single one of them has been offered permanent employment upon successful completion of their training. This is against a target of 1 100 people, meaning that the project has over-delivered by almost 30%.

Through City programmes such as these, Cape Town has helped South Africa rise to the top of international rankings in the call centre industry. In total, the Cape Town sector created almost 5 500 international jobs in 2021, bringing the overall jobs servicing global clients to over 42 000. Together with domestic-facing clients, more than 69 000 people now work in the sector in Cape Town.

These initiatives were given an additional boost today as Council approved the R713 million Economic Growth budget. With the projects that will be undertaken, we will spur more investment and job opportunities in sectors such as tourism, greentech and marine manufacturing, among others.

Unemployment remains one of our country’s biggest crises. In Cape Town, we see this too. The most vulnerable communities feel it. But we are working hard to create an inclusive economy of hope and confidence. Together, we are creating a better tomorrow.

Source: City Of Cape Town

DURBAN – As we continue to celebrate the National Child Protection week let us report all forms of abuse directed at children to the police. Working together we can make this province a safe place for every child.

Sajith Ramlutchan Ramlall (53) appeared in the Durban Regional Court for being in possession of child pornography and was sentenced to eight years imprisonment with three years, which was wholly suspended. The accused will serve five years behind bars.

On 26 November 2020, police received information that a man who stays on Ramsunder Road in Isipingo Rail was in possession of child pornography and an investigation was initiated. In December 2020, police proceeded to the accused’s residence and conducted a search of the premises. During the search, a laptop and two hard drives were seized. Forensic analysis was done on the devices and images of child pornography were identified. Ramlall made several court appearance before he was convicted and sentenced.

Source: South African Police Service

The City of Cape Town will avail R3,75 billion in rates and tariffs relief to qualifying residents in the new financial year, which starts on 1 July 2022.

• The City’s policies aim to accommodate and assist everyone according to their income level; unfortunately the City can’t provide blanket relief.

• The City offers rates and services relief, subsidised services to indigent residents and financial assistance in the form of interest free payment arrangements to residential and commercial customers who have been adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and national lockdown.

• All qualifying residents who are struggling to pay their municipal accounts should please approach the City for assistance as the City evaluates each case according to the circumstances and policies in place.

‘It takes a well-run city to manage debt sustainably and ensure that the City remains healthy enough to deliver on its core mandate, which is the provision of basic services. All income from rates and tariffs is used for basic and essential service provision. With rising costs such as fuel and food prices, the City has endeavoured to keep tariffs and rates as affordable as possible, while continuing to enable a high standard of service delivery. We’d like to thank our customers who have been paying their municipal accounts, and helping us to deliver top notch services. The City has a payment ratio of about 98%, which means the majority of customers are paying their accounts. This shows that there is trust in the metro and its billing system, and demonstrates our sound financial management. For those who are struggling to make payments, there is help on offer.

‘In addition to the indigent and rates relief on offer, the City in 2021 embarked on a debt write-off and payment incentive project, whereby debt prior to 1 July 2018 was written off, on condition that an arrangement was entered into to pay more current debts. More than R2 billion in old debt has been written off thus far and some R2 billion is still available until 30 June 2022,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Finance, Councillor Siseko Mbandezi.

More about the debt write-off incentive

• Customers are required to enter into a debt payment arrangement.

• Outstanding debt older than 1 July 2018 will then be written off.

• This incentive is only available until 30 June 2022.

• After this date, in terms of recent amendments to the City’s Credit Control and Debt Collection Policy, historic debt may still be written off, but this will be at the sole discretion of the City Manager, and also contingent on a payment arrangement.

• Customers are encouraged to visit a Contact Centre to enter into a payment arrangement to benefit from this incentive.

• A condition of the payment arrangement is that the debt which is written-off, will be reinstated if customers default on their instalment plans.

Source: City Of Cape Town